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Medicare

Journalist Vs. Chemist: Avlon, Goroff Face Off In Closely-Watched NY Congressional Primary Race Journalist Vs. Chemist: Avlon, Goroff Face Off In Closely-Watched NY Congressional Primary Race
Journalist Vs. Chemist: Avlon, Goroff Face Off In Closely-Watched NY Congressional Primary Race Among the New York races that political pundits are keeping an eye on this Primary Day is that of the journalist versus the chemist. On Long Island, Democrats John Avlon and Nancy Goroff are facing off to determine who will take on Republican Rep. Nick LaLota in November for the state’s 1st Congressional District, representing the eastern two-thirds of Suffolk County. The 51-year-old Avlon is a former political analyst at CNN who previously served as a columnist and associate editor for The New York Sun. He was also the chief speech writer for former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Ea…
$2M Scheme: Westchester Accounting Firm Partners Admit To Tax Fraud Conspiracy $2M Scheme: Westchester Accounting Firm Partners Admit To Tax Fraud Conspiracy
$2M Scheme: Westchester Accounting Firm Partners Admit To Tax Fraud Conspiracy Two New York accounting firm partners have pleaded guilty to a multi-million dollar tax evasion scheme.  Click here for a new, updated story - Update: Scarsdale-Based Accountant Nabbed In Tax Fraud Scheme Was Longtime Firefighter Westchester County resident George Sanossian, age 70, of Scarsdale, and New Jersey resident Jack Sardis, age 66, of Englewood Cliffs, both certified public accountants, admitted to conspiracy to defraud the IRS by scheming with clients to reduce tax liabilities through a shell company, leading to over $2 million in unreported cash transactions.  The tw…
Pharmacy Owner From Long Island Engaged In $26M Health Care Fraud Scheme, Feds Say Pharmacy Owner From Long Island Engaged In $26M Health Care Fraud Scheme, Feds Say
Pharmacy Owner From Long Island Engaged In $26M Health Care Fraud Scheme, Feds Say Two pharmacy owners, including one from Long Island, are facing federal charges for their alleged roles in a massive health care fraud scheme, authorities said. Taesung Kim, age 58, of Great Neck and Dacheng Lu, age 44, of Flushing, Queens are each accused of submitting false and fraudulent claims to Medicare and Medicaid, according to an indictment unsealed Tuesday, May 2, in federal court in Brooklyn. The pair owned and operated four pharmacies located in Brooklyn and Queens. According to federal prosecutors, between January 2015 and December 2022 Kim and Lu conspired with others to subm…
Long Island Doctor Sentenced For Million-Dollar Medicare Fraud Scheme Long Island Doctor Sentenced For Million-Dollar Medicare Fraud Scheme
Long Island Doctor Sentenced For Million-Dollar Medicare Fraud Scheme A Long Island doctor is heading to federal prison after admitting that he bilked the Medicare system out of more than a million dollars as part of an elaborate fraud scheme. Morris Barnard, age 59, of Great Neck, was sentenced to 2 ½ years behind bars in federal court in Central Islip on Thursday, Jan. 5. It followed his March 2022 guilty plea to healthcare fraud. Earlier Report: New Details: Nassau Doctor Admits To Million-Dollar Medicare Scheme Prosecutors said between October 2015 and February 2020, Barnard, a gastroenterologist practicing in Great Neck, submitted over $3 million i…
Nursing Home Stole $22.6M In Government Funds, NY AG Says Nursing Home Stole $22.6M In Government Funds, NY AG Says
Nursing Home Stole $22.6M In Government Funds, NY AG Says Millions of dollars in public funding that should’ve gone to caring for residents of a New York nursing home were instead diverted into the pockets of its greedy owners, according to a lawsuit from Attorney General Letitia James. The suit, filed Friday, Dec. 16, alleges a years-long fraud scheme carried out by the owners of Long Island’s Cold Spring Hills Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, located in Woodbury. Earlier Report: East Meadow Nursing Home's $16M Fraud Scheme Led To 'Devastating' Resident Abuse, AG Says An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that…
NY Nursing Home's $16M Fraud Scheme Led To 'Devastating' Resident Abuse, Neglect, AG Says NY Nursing Home's $16M Fraud Scheme Led To 'Devastating' Resident Abuse, Neglect, AG Says
NY Nursing Home's $16M Fraud Scheme Led To 'Devastating' Resident Abuse, Neglect, AG Says Sexual abuse, unexplained bruising, unanswered call bells, and humiliating missed trips to the bathroom. Those were just some of the horrors experienced by residents at a New York nursing home stemming from a multimillion-dollar fraud scheme, according to a lawsuit from Attorney General Letitia James. Related Report: East Meadow Nursing Home Employee Sexually Assaulted Resident, Boss Covered Up Crime, DA Says The suit, filed Tuesday, Dec. 13, alleges that the owners of Long Island’s Fulton Commons Care Center, located in East Meadow, exploited New York’s Medicaid program to enrich themsel…
NY Doctor Charged For $1.3 Million Fraud Scheme NY Doctor Charged For $1.3 Million Fraud Scheme
NY Doctor Charged For $1.3 Million Fraud Scheme A New York doctor is accused of defrauding Medicare and Medicaid of over $1.3 million. Federal prosecutors allege that Dr. Perry Frankel, age 64, of Roslyn, in Nassau County, submitted false billing claims to Medicare and Medicaid for office visits that were never performed for patients who received COVID-19 tests. The tests were done at mobile sites across Long Island through Frankel’s cardiology clinic, Advanced Cardiovascular Diagnostics PLLC, located in Great Neck. Frankel was not even in New York when some of the alleged office visits occurred, prosecutors said. “As alleged, exploiti…
New Details: Nassau Doctor Admits To Million-Dollar Medicare Scheme New Details: Nassau Doctor Admits To Million-Dollar Medicare Scheme
New Details: Nassau Doctor Admits To Million-Dollar Medicare Scheme A doctor on Long Island admitted to scheming to bilk Medicare out of more than a million dollars as part of an elaborate fraud scheme, federal authorities announced. Morris Barnard, age 58, of Great Neck, pleaded guilty on Monday, March 7 to health care fraud in connection with the scam to bill Medicare for medical procedures that were never actually performed. US Attorney Breon Peace said that beginning in October 2015 through February 2020, Barnard submitted more than $3 million in billings to Medicare for colonoscopy and gastroenterological procedures that were never done.  Earli…
Doctor From Great Neck Admits To Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme Doctor From Great Neck Admits To Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme
Doctor From Great Neck Admits To Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Scheme A Long Island doctor has admitted to sending Medicare bills for millions of dollars for procedures that were never performed. Morris Barnard, age 58, of Great Neck, pleaded guilty on Monday, March 7, to health care fraud, according to Breon Peace, United States attorney for the Eastern District of New York. “With today’s guilty plea, Dr. Barnard admits to committing a multi-million dollar fraud on the Medicare program by billing for procedures he did not perform,” Peace said. “By claiming to render services to disabled and other vulnerable patients, Dr. Barnard not only pocketed taxp…
Doctor From Westchester Charged For 'Prolific Seven-Year Fraud Scheme,' Feds Say Doctor From Westchester Charged For 'Prolific Seven-Year Fraud Scheme,' Feds Say
Doctor From Westchester Charged For 'Prolific Seven-Year Fraud Scheme,' Feds Say An eye doctor from Westchester who had practices throughout the Hudson Valley and Fairfield County who was previously charged with healthcare fraud has been sentenced for attempting to exploit the COVID-19 pandemic through loan fraud. Westchester resident Ameet Goyal, age 58, of Rye, who operated The Eye Associates Group, with practices in Rye, Mount Kisco, Wappingers Falls in Dutchess County, and Greenwich, has been sentenced to 96 months in prison for orchestrating a seven-year fraud scheme and for obtaining government loans intended for small businesses during the pandemic. In addition t…
Six Physical Therapists, Two Acupuncturists Charged In $20M Fraud Scheme, SDNY Says Six Physical Therapists, Two Acupuncturists Charged In $20M Fraud Scheme, SDNY Says
Six Physical Therapists, Two Acupuncturists Charged In $20M Fraud Scheme, Sdny Says Six physical therapists and a pair of acupuncturists in New York are facing charges for their roles in a $20 million health care fraud scheme during the COVID-19 pandemic. US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Audrey Strauss announced that nine suspects have been indicted for operating an over $20 million health care fraud scheme at fraudulent medical offices in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens. It is alleged that as part of the fraud scheme, co-conspirators paid a kickback to some patients who were insured by Medicare and other insurance providers to fraudulently bill them for p…
Westchester Doctor Sentenced For Pushing Fentanyl For Drug Company Westchester Doctor Sentenced For Pushing Fentanyl For Drug Company
Westchester Doctor Sentenced For Pushing Fentanyl For Drug Company A Westchester doctor who practiced in Manhattan has been sentenced to five years in prison for taking bribes from drug companies for prescribing fentanyl. Jeffrey Goldstein, of New Rochelle, was sentenced on Wednesday, June 16, for violating the anti-kickback statute after receiving more than $200,000 from Subsys’s manufacturer, Insys Therapeutics, in exchange for prescribing Subsys, a potent fentanyl-based spray, said. Audrey Strauss, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Goldstein, age 51, previously pleaded guilty, in August 2019, the United States Attorney's Office sa…
COVID-19: Don't Fall For These Vaccine-Related Scams, Police Say COVID-19: Don't Fall For These Vaccine-Related Scams, Police Say
Covid-19: Don't Fall For These Vaccine-Related Scams, Police Say The rise in Americans going out and getting the COVID-19 vaccine has also brought about a rise in the number of opportunistic scammers looking to take advantage of the pandemic, law enforcement officials are cautioning. An alert was issued by police in the area regarding COVID-19 vaccine scams that have been reported to law enforcement agencies across the country. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG), scammers have been using telemarketing calls, text messages, social media platforms, and door-to-door visits to perpetrate COVID-…
COVID-19: Nursing Home Scandal Could Bring Criminal Charges For Cuomo, Prosecutor Says COVID-19: Nursing Home Scandal Could Bring Criminal Charges For Cuomo, Prosecutor Says
Covid-19: Nursing Home Scandal Could Bring Criminal Charges For Cuomo, Prosecutor Says New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s COVID-19 nursing home scandal could lead to federal charges, according to a longtime prosecutor. John Daukas, who was acting attorney general for the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division under President Donald Trump, said that Cuomo could face criminal charges after underreporting nursing home deaths and then attempting to cover it up. Earlier story - COVID-19: Nursing Home Scandal Fallout Increases As More Dems Turn On Cuomo, Feds Launch Probe In an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal, Daukas said that Cuomo’s administration misled the public, and the …
COVID-19: Cuomo Calls For Nursing Home Reform Amid Federal Probe, Increasing Pressure COVID-19: Cuomo Calls For Nursing Home Reform Amid Federal Probe, Increasing Pressure
Covid-19: Cuomo Calls For Nursing Home Reform Amid Federal Probe, Increasing Pressure With pressure coming from both sides of the aisle into investigating New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s handling of nursing homes during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has vowed sweeping reform as part of the 30-day amendments. Cuomo announced reforms to improve the health, quality of life, and safety of nursing home residents to ensure that “facilities prioritize patient care over profits.” “You can’t say to a nursing home that ‘either you can buy new beds, or you can make more money,' " Cuomo said during a COVID-19 briefing on Friday, Feb. 19. “It’s not a matter of hiring more staff or …
COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, FBI, DOJ Warn COVID-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, FBI, DOJ Warn
Covid-19: Beware Of These Vaccine Scams, FBI, DOJ Warn Scammers are using the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines in the United States to trick people into paying for doses or early access that never comes, federal authorities are warning. As COVID-19 vaccines become more available, there has been a spike in scams seeking to exploit people’s desire to protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus, according to the U.S. Department of Justice as well as local police departments and other law enforcement agencies. “Members of the public should be suspicious of unexpected or unsolicited contact from anyone unknown to them claiming to have inform…
COVID-19: Feds Charge NYC-Area Pharmacy Owners In $30 Million Health Care Fraud COVID-19: Feds Charge NYC-Area Pharmacy Owners In $30 Million Health Care Fraud
Covid-19: Feds Charge Nyc-area Pharmacy Owners In $30 Million Health Care Fraud The owners of more than a dozen New York City-area pharmacies exploited the COVID-19 pandemic to scam Medicaid out of $30 million, then used the money to buy themselves real estate and luxury items, federal authorities charged. Peter Khaim, 40, and Arkadiy Khaimov, 37, both of Forest Hills, got others to pose as pharmacy owners or supervisors to take advantage of emergency override codes added to the Medicare system during the national state of emergency, an indictment returned by a grand jury in Brooklyn alleges. They used these to submit fraudulent claims for the expensive cancer medicati…
Ex-Long Island Medical Supplier Sentenced For Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud Ex-Long Island Medical Supplier Sentenced For Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud
Ex-Long Island Medical Supplier Sentenced For Multi-Million Dollar Health Care Fraud A former member of the “Most Wanted List” who fled to Haiti for more than a decade will spend years in prison and has been ordered to pay millions of dollars after admitting to his role in a health care fraud scheme on Long Island. Etienne Allonce, the former co-owner of Medical Solutions Management in Hicksville, was sentenced to 36 months in prison after he pleaded guilty in federal court last year in Central Islip to health care fraud. In addition to his prison term, Allonce was also ordered to pay $4,444,468 in restitution to his victims. Acting U.S. Attorney Seth DuCharme said that be…
COVID-19: Long Island Pharmacist Charged With Hoarding, Price Gouging Of N95 Masks COVID-19: Long Island Pharmacist Charged With Hoarding, Price Gouging Of N95 Masks
Covid-19: Long Island Pharmacist Charged With Hoarding, Price Gouging Of N95 Masks A Long Island pharmacist is facing charges for alleged price gouging of personal protective equipment during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Federal officials charged Suffolk County resident Richard Schirripa - also known as “the Mask Man” - with violating the Defense Production Act by hoarding and price gouging N95 masks; making false statements to law enforcement; committing healthcare fraud; and committing aggravated identity theft.  Schirripa, of Fort Salonga, had been wanted and turned himself in to authorities on Tuesday, May 26. Schirripa is accused of buying a…
Pharmacy Owner Found Guilty Of Health Care Fraud, Money Laundering For Role in Billing Scheme Pharmacy Owner Found Guilty Of Health Care Fraud, Money Laundering For Role in Billing Scheme
Pharmacy Owner Found Guilty Of Health Care Fraud, Money Laundering For Role in Billing Scheme A federal grand jury found a pharmacy owner guilty of a years-long scheme to defraud Medicare by billing for prescriptions never provided to patients. Queens resident Yuriy Barayev, 45, the former owner of Woodhaven Rx, was found guilty following a four-day trial in Brooklyn federal court to one count of health care fraud and seven counts of money laundering for his role in the scheme. The pharmacy is located on Woodhaven Boulevard, near the border of Rego Park and Middle Village. U.S. Attorney Richard Donoghue said that between November 2013 and December 2015, Barayev engaged in a scheme …
Four Who Operated Queens Medical Clinic Convicted For Illegally Distributing Oxycodone Four Who Operated Queens Medical Clinic Convicted For Illegally Distributing Oxycodone
Four Who Operated Queens Medical Clinic Convicted For Illegally Distributing Oxycodone Four people who operated a pill mill in Queens that sold millions of oxycodone pills to customers who came out from all five boroughs. John Gargan, 63, of Manhattan, and Loren Piquant, 38, of the Bronx, were convicted after a two-week trial of narcotics distribution conspiracy. Two others, Queens residents Dante Cubangbang, 51, and Michael Kellerman, previously pleaded guilty to narcotics, health care fraud, and money laundering charges in connection with their participation in the oxycodone distribution scheme at that same clinic.  Between 2018, Cubangbang, a doctor, and Gargan…
Two Doctors Among Five Charged In Northeast Regional Health Care Fraud Takedown Two Doctors Among Five Charged In Northeast Regional Health Care Fraud Takedown
Two Doctors Among Five Charged In Northeast Regional Health Care Fraud Takedown Two doctors, a pharmacy owner, pharmacist who lost his license and a registered nurse are facing charges for their roles in a $17 million fraud scheme. The United States Attorney’s Office in the Eastern District of New York announced that Anna Steiner, 63, Denny Martin, 46, Andrew Barrett, 60, Phyllis Pincus, 58, and Kevin McMahon, 31, have been charged for defrauding the Medicare and Medicaid programs by overbilling them by millions of dollars. It is alleged that Steiner, a licensed anesthesiologist from Valatie in Columbia County, New York, was involved in a $17.4 million scheme related …
Long Island Doctor Ordered To Pay $869K In Restitution In Fraud Case Long Island Doctor Ordered To Pay $869K In Restitution In Fraud Case
Long Island Doctor Ordered To Pay $869K In Restitution In Fraud Case A Long Island podiatrist will spend time behind bars and has been ordered to pay out more than a million dollars after pleading guilty to a health care fraud scheme. Hal Abrahamson, 57, of Melville, a podiatrist with offices in Plainview and Queens, has been sentenced to one year and one day in prison for his role in a health care fraud scheme. Abrahamson was also ordered to pay $869,652 in restitution, a $50,000 fine and will forfeit $177,000. Abrahamson pleaded guilty on June 26 last year to one count of health care fraud in connection to a scheme he operated out of his practices. U.S. …
Former Hicksville Medical Company Co-Owner Admits To Multi-Million Dollar Fraud Former Hicksville Medical Company Co-Owner Admits To Multi-Million Dollar Fraud
Former Hicksville Medical Company Co-Owner Admits To Multi-Million Dollar Fraud A former member of the “Most Wanted List” who fled to Haiti for more than a decade has admitted to his role in a multi-million dollar health care fraud scheme on Long Island. Etienne Allonce, the former co-owner of Medical Solutions Management in Hicksville pleaded guilty in federal court this week in Central Islip to health care fraud. In September last year, Allonce was expelled from Haiti, where he had fled 11 years ago following the filing of an indictment in the Eastern District of New York charging him with billing Medicare and Medicaid for medical supplies never delivered to patients…